bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.
In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and
the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I
ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).
It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was
locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt
chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.
When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I
get a ton of error messages, all the same
"the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"
I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB
free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't
understand why I am getting this error.
I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk
drive.
I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a
laptop for a few weeks.
Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.
Thanks

 

Back up your data NOW. The disk is doomed and there is nothing you can do
about it but send the machine back to HP to get the HDD replaced.

 

And there's the rub -- what is the value of an extended warrantee for
someone who can't be without the (concept of) a 'spare' computer?

If you have to do all of the troubleshooting and dirty work, what is the
value of the extra $$ for the extra warantee? If you don't already have
a spare one, then you could go buy another computer, and send your LT
off to HP for an indeterminate period. And forget about any data you
haven't recovered/ backed up/ somehow.

Who wants to be without any computer for 'a while'?

I would be very very worried about the integrity of my drive; and this
is one of the times, new, these problems show up.

I'm concerned that it took you a little thinking to realize that you
weren't going to get good chkdisk while running in gear, but at least
you worked your way to the appropriate scary result.

 

It sounds like a failing hard drive. Back up the data, and send the computer
to have it serviced.

--

JANA
_____


I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.
In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and
the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I
ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).
It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was
locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt
chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.
When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I
get a ton of error messages, all the same
"the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"
I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB
free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't
understand why I am getting this error.
I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk
drive.
I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a
laptop for a few weeks.
Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.
Thanks

 

skrev:

Talk to HP and explain your situation. They may accept your diagnose and
allow you to change the HDD yourself, sending you a replacement and
requiring the faulty one to be returned.

Not likely, but it happens...

 

You and your laptop should qualify for a home/office repair typically next
business day. go to the HP warranty checker and put the product code and
serial in to the checker. don't even think of a chkdsk fix , thats what
warranty is for (back up your data quick)


Cub

 

Him *and* his laptop?

 

Well , he is able to log a call with HP direct rather than go via an agent
for the manufacturer and he will be able to talk to HP directly rather than
once again going via a reseller



Cub

 

..

 

Steps I'd take:

1. Remove the HDD
This may void your warranty, I'd check before doing this
the reason I'd remove the HDD first is because if the disk really
is failing then the longer it spins the more likely it is to go out
totally
2. Download MemTest86+ boot cd, and boot it.
This will check to see if your memory is okay. Disk corruption
issues are sometimes linked to bad memory. check your memory first
before
using the computer to rescue your data. If the computer's memory
is shot, do not try to rescue your data with it.
here's the link to MemTest86+ http://www.memtest.org
3. If mem is good, then download Knoppix Boot CD
link = http://www.knoppix.org
4. get yourself a usb external hdd that is as large as or larger than
the laptops internal HDD
5. Reinstall the HDD, and boot Knoppix CD
Open command prompt, run ddrescue and copy what you can to the new
HDD
6. Get a copy of SpinRite by GRC
http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm
Note: this program is not free, but is worth the money.
Alternatively you can download ultimate boot cd and check out what
freeware utils it has to check the physical sectors on your disk
7. If SpinRite makes corrections, repeat step 5 on another external
HDD if possible
8. if HDD is messed up, replace it and copy back data from external
HDD